Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed what he believes are the main problems with his team following their latest defeat.
City were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa as Guardiola's side continued to struggle.
There has been much speculation about what went wrong with City, who went from title winners to a team seriously lacking cohesion.
Guardiola will believe he can turn City's fortunes around, but there is still a lot of work for him to do if he is to achieve that goal.
After their latest setback, City sit sixth in the Premier League and nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who have two games in hand.
City have already suffered six Premier League defeats this season, with Guardiola's team looking a shadow of their former selves.
Asked about the specific problems facing his team, Guardiola told TNT Sports: “We are struggling to score and we are conceding goals.”
Guardiola said: 'We are making a very good first half, we still have problems with the foul. In the second half we fell away, we changed our pressure a little bit because John (Stones) couldn't continue and we weren't as good as the first half. Congratulations to Aston Villa and carry on.”
Guardiola confirmed that John Stones had suffered a recurrence of his previous injury.
Commenting on where his team were struggling, Guardiola said: “Our build-up was comfortable, but they are so strong in the middle. They follow the pockets, the physicality very well with Onana and Kamara. We could link in. We had good moments, no big chances. For example, we had more chances than in the United game, but we missed the second half.
“Our pressing wasn't effective on our right side and we struggled a bit. After we couldn't get them to drop properly. In the end we found a goal, but it was too late.'
'Phil has been better in the last one or two games. Most players have problems and struggle. Things that have happened in the past in terms of form and performance, sometimes the next season is not the same because people change and the situation changes.”
Guardiola added that it is important for him to support his players as he wants to ensure they can get out of their difficult situation.
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